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5 Style Tips for the Skinny Guy

The advice you’ll hear around here is to hit the gym, gain weight, and build muscle. And I concur!

But as a skinny man myself, I know this can take time.

Let’s dig in!

1. Avoid Clothes That Make You Look Frail

The first step in creating a stronger impression is to stop wearing clothes that make you look physically weaker.

And chances are, if you’re a skinny man, you’re wearing such clothes right now. And if not now, I bet you have worn such clothes and probably will again. Frankly, they can be difficult to avoid. But you should still try.

Wrong. The opposite is true. By wearing clothes that are too large for you, you make yourself look like a skeletal scarecrow.

On the opposite end, you also want to stay clear of skin-tight clothes, since they’ll accentuate your skinny frame just as much. You need to get clothes that fit you just right.

Your clothes should drape over your body, following your frame closely without billowing or stretching anywhere. (Hint: You probably need to take a trip to the tailor from time to time to get clothes taken in.)

You should also pay special attention to your shoulders and sleeves. The shoulder seam should sit at your shoulder’s edge. When it sits past that edge, you give the illusion that you’re slumping. And if your sleeves are too roomy (pirate-sleeve syndrome), you look like you don’t have big enough arms to fill them out.

Similarly, t-shirts with large sleeves can make your arms look like spaghetti strings (see left image below). Try and find t-shirts that fit somewhat tight around the arm. (You can also roll them up a bit, James Dean style, if you like that look. Just don’t roll them all the way up your shoulder. A little goes a long way.)

Just by fixing these little issues, you’ll already be making a huge difference. But you can do a lot more.

2. Wear the One Item Designed to Make You Look Stronger

Did you know you can instantly make yourself appear more buff by wearing one specific item?

I’m talking about a jacket — and not your everyday windbreaker. I’m talking about a suit jacket, sports coat, or blazer.

These jackets are designed to accentuate the male form, making you look more muscular.

How?

Well, first off, they broaden your shoulders. Most of these jackets have padding that create a sharper edge where your shoulder normally starts to slump down. This padding can add about half an inch on each side. And while that might not seem like much, you’d be surprised what a difference it can make.

You want to go for light padding though. Be careful not to get a jacket with padding that’s too large for you. It should be subtle, not over the top.

This is our Doctors Strange!!! (Benedict Cumberbatch)

3. Wear Fabrics That Add Bulk to Your Frame

Choosing the right fabric is another easy way to add some visual bulk.

Textured fabrics, for instance, give the illusion of having more mass than smooth ones. So look for fabrics like:

Tweed

Flannel

Glen check

Denim

Corduroy

Everything that looks a bit rougher to the touch will suggest you have more bodily mass than you do.

He is thin. Don't get cheated!

Besides textures, you should also look at the thickness of your knitted clothes.

Chunky, thick knits have become quite popular in recent years, particularly in fall and winter, which are seasons they’re obviously more suited for. So besides lightweight wool, you should also have some thick-knit sweaters or cardigans in your wardrobe for casual wear.

The best thing about thick-knit clothes is that they not only are thicker than regular knits, but they’re usually textured as well, which means you can strike two birds with one stone.

4. Wear Colors or Patterns That Boost Visual Heft

In Malaysia, it's quite hot and you’ll rarely wear more than a tee or lightweight shirt in casual settings.

For instance, you might wear lighter colors like white, beige, or pastels. Many people know that darker colors slim you down, but few know that lighter colors have the opposite effect. This is also why rooms with lighter walls feel like they are spacier than same-sized rooms with darker walls.

I want to put my picture. But, nevermind ...

5. And what about patterns?

Wearing a t-shirt with horizontal stripes can make your chest look larger and your shoulders broader. Because the stripes will be wider on your upper torso due to your sleeves, this helps accentuate your V-shape.

But that’s not your only option.

Checks and boxes can also add visual heft to your body, much in the same way that textures do. The smaller the scale of the pattern, the more it increases your visual heft and the stronger it makes you look.

So generally, you want to go for medium-to-small patterns like (micro-)gingham, graph checks, or tattersal. (Large plaids work too, but have a more subtle effect.)

Pictured left to right: gingham, graph checks, and tattersall shirts.

BE CONFIDENT!

You don’t have to be physically strong to show your strength of character, strength of leadership, or strength of mind. Such qualities are quite hard to transmit when meeting someone for the first time though.

We all know we subconsciously judge people based on their outward appearance, whether we like to admit it or not. So you also know that people make assumptions about you based on their first impression.

That’s why you should have a strong outward presentation to match your inner strengths.